Cleaning pad and holder therefor



Oct. 4, 1960 c. o. CARROLL ETAL 2,954,649

cummc PAD AND HOLDER THEREFOR Filed May 29, 1958 Fig-3- INVENTORS 66 4/6655 0. 002x044 CLEANING PAD AND HOLDER THEREFOR Charles Orlando Carroll and Helen N. Carroll, 2620 Miller Road, Flint, Mich.

Filed May 29, 1958, Ser. No. 738,886

4 Claims. (Cl. 51-187) that greatly simplifies the problem of cleaning and scouring surfaces while combining several prior cleaning operations into an operation accomplished by one unit.

The device of the present invention has extremely high utility in the field of cleaning grillsand steel surfaces such as are frequently associated with restaurants and kitchens. r r 3 In the cleaning of grills and the like the labor involved in such cleaning has been quite diflicult inasmuch as an abrasion operation was required, concurrent with wetting of the surface to be cleaned and finally swabbing up of'the cleaning residue. To date, no structure is believed to have provided a combination for accomplishing all of these functions.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a sturdy scrubbing frame for secur ing elements that will accomplish abrasion, wetting of the surface to be cleaned, and clean-up swabbing of the dislodged material.

Another object is to provide a quick release clam-ping net.

Other objects including simple construction, simple refill advantages, and knock-down for cleaning and maintenance will be more really appreciated as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holder and pad structure as fully assembled and ready for use.

Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view indicating the principal elements in the combination.

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial elevation view through the abrasive grid cloth.

Figure 4 is a perspective bottom accentuat-ing view indicating the simplicity of holding lugs which securely structure for retaining a sponge-like pad, and cleaning r grip the sponge or pad portion of the device and which In general, the present invention comprises a frame I having a substantially flat base portion and an interconnected handle. The frame carries a pair of simple disconnect clamps. To the bottom of the frame, and secured in relation thereto by depending lugs, is a pad of sponge-like material. Wrapped around the sponge is a sheet of grid cloth. Grid cloth is an open weave fabric upon which has been deposited an abrasive material such as aluminum oxide.

In use the grid cloth sheet with its open grid surface is clamped on one side of the frame and encircles the pad or sponge, the grid cloth being locked to the frame on the other side by the second of the disconnect clamps. The structure is immersed in water and is used to scrub 2,954,649 Patented Oct. 4, 1960 ice or clean grills and the like. Soaps or detergent mate rials may be used beneficially, and in cleaning .som'e grills, cooking oil is employed. The pad retains the liquid dispensing it during scouring as desired by the application of pressure. The abrasive surface of the grid cloth removes sticky deposits and excess liquid. The debris is picked up by action of the sponge. grid cloth is not easily plugged and provides armesh membrane which allows two-way movement of liquid and grime material from and to the sponge face.

Specific description Referring more particularly to the drawing, -a frame 11 is provided comprising a relatively flat surface plate 12 having upturned flanges 13 and 14 at two of ends. Bearings 15 and 16 are provided in the flange 13 and corresponding bearings 17 and 18 are provided in the other of the flanges 14. These bearings 15 ,16, 17, and 18 comprise openings defined by the flanges 13 and 14 in spaced apart relation. Lock members 19 and 20 are journaled at either of their ends in the bearings. The lock members 19 and 20 are wire formed so as to provide a camming and springing actionin rotated relation with the plate 12. The lock members 19 and 20 are provided with thumb release loops 21 and .22 respectively for locking and unlocking purposes. In Figure 1, showing the assembled structure, the :lock members 19 and 20 are in locked relationship with their spring camming portions 23, 24, 25 and 26 bearing upon .the abrasive sheet 27 and securing it to the plate 12. In Figure 2 the locks 19 and 20 are in the unlocked position, the camming portions 23, 24,25 and 26 swung out of camming engagement with the surface 12' of the frame 11.

The cam lock structures 19 and 20 are made from a length of relatively stiff wire stock. The locks 19 and 20 are journalled at their ends as indicated and shallow bends provide an eccentric surface engagement. The extent of eccentricity is slightly in excess of the distance from the bearings to the surface of the plate 12.

A 'U-shape handle bracket 28 is secured centrally and longitudinally to the plate 12 and its arms 29 and 30 are extended upwardly and perpendicular to the plate 12'. Spanning the gap between the two arms .29 and 30 of the handle bracket 28 is the handle 31. The handle 31 is preferably made from a tubular piece of wood and is secured to the bracket 28 by means of a through fastener 32.

A plurality of openings 33 are provided in the surface of the plate 12 as best noted in Figures 3, 4, and 5. These openings are rough punched through from the upper surface 34 of the plate 12 so as to provide alepending lug portions 35 raggedly extending .:downward from the undersurface 36 of the plate 12. As will be appreciated by reference to Figures 4 and 5 these depending lug portions extend to impinge in the pad 37.

This secures the pad 37 from shifting in relationship to the plate 12, while it does not extend so far as to interfere with the working face 38 of the pad 37. The pad 37 is actually a sponge or made of material having a sponge-like ability to pick up and store, or to store and deliver liquids on contact. The preferable material is a cellulose sponge such as those commonly procurable from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. The cellulose sponges provide a relatively stitf resilient action under pressure, While some of the other rubber and synthetic sponge materials flex too readily. As will be appreciated the pad material is variable depending upon the stubbornness of the surface to be cleaned and the resiliency desired by the user. The sponge pad 37 is generally rectangular and overlaps the ends of the frame 11. This overlap provides a buffer surface to avoid The . a a i 3 metal to metal contact with the frame 11 and surface served during usage.

A grid cloth sheet 39,, illustrated best in Figures 2 and 3 is provided -for replaceable .wrap-around'securing of the sponge pad 37. The ends of the sheet 39 are tensionally secured to the plate 12 by action of the cam locks 19 and 20. The action of thecam locks 19'and 20 is rotational, inwardly drawing the grid cloth 39 toward the center of the plate 12 While pressing the cloth 39 into engagement with the plate 12.

The assembled structure as shown in Figure 1 is advantageous in that the abrasive surface is of relatively durable open-work construction. Thus a pattern of voids 40 as shown in Figure 3 allows the working face 38 of the sponge pad 37 to extend into'piok up or delivering contact with the surface to be cleaned. The grid cloth 39 comprises a'grid of fibers with the fibers being coated with abrasive material. The preferred abrasive is aluminum oxide material in that it is durably retained by the cloth fibers and resists wear beyond that of other materials. The preferred grid cloth is obtained commercially'from Bay State Abrasives Company of Westboro, Massachusetts. The preferred grid size for general utility is A-220 which provides about 25 voids per lineal inch. 1 In use, both the grid cloth 39 and sponge pad 37 are easily removed for cleaning and washing or replacement. Theframe 11 is easily flushed clean of debris, the frame device being built to avoid deposition areas where matter can build up. The combined cleaning pad and holder "are dipped. into liquid material and the surface to be cleaned is scrubbed with the abrasive grid sheet surface down. the holder unit. Depending upon the downward pressure applied to the cleaning and scouring structure the liquid is dispensed or picked up from the surface served. The results of such cleaning are highly. advantageous, the pad and abrasive face flexing with'the surface contours of the surface to be cleaned and lifting off debris from the surface as the combination structure is used. In restaurants, hotels, and household kitchens the devices have found excellent reception.

2. In a cleaning structure, the combination including: a frame holder; a pair of spaced apart eccentric locks in parallel opposed relation on said frame; a liquid retaining pad in mating relationship with said frame; means depending from said frame and impinging said pad thereby preventing lateral shifting of said pad in relationship to said frame; and an open work abrasive faced grid cloth releasably secured at either end by said eccentric locks and enveloping the working face and two sides of said pad in wraparound relationship.

3. In a cleaning structure, the combination comprising: a frame having a flat plate portion with upturned ends; a handle bracket attached to the upper surface of said frame; a handle connected to'said'handle brackets; a pair of wire cam locks in spaced apart parallel relationship on either side of said bracket and having eccentric portions, eccentric with respect to the journals for said cam locks; lugs depending from the bottom of the flat plate portion of said frame; a sponge block impinged upon said lugs and in substantial register with the flat plate of said frame; and a rectangular sheet of abrasive grid cloth around said sponge block andtensionally secured at the ends of said cam locks in en- Scrubbing is greatly facilitated by'the use of Having thus disclosed one embodiment of my invention it will be appreciated that some modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and such modifications are intended to be included herein limited only by the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

We claim:

1. A pad and wrap around holder frame comprising: a flat rectangular plate; an upturned flange at either end of said plate defining bearing openings therethrough; x'wire stock cam blocks journalled in said bearing openings of said flanges and having eccentric portions which upon rotation resiliently engage the upper surface of said plate; a plurality of lugs depending from the bottom of said plate; and a handle attached to said plate,

gagement with the surface of said frame. a

4. In a cleaning structure, the combination comprising: a frame of flat stock having a central flat rectangular portion and upturned ends, said upturned ends defining spaced apart journal openings therethrough; a pair of Wire cam lock members journalled in said ends and operative eccentrically to selectively and resiliently engage and disengage said flat rectangular portion of said frame; a handle mounted parallel to said cam locks and between said cam looks; lugs depending from said central flat portion of said frame; a block of sponge having substantially contiguous openings dispersed therethrough and impinged on said lugs in register with said flat portion of said frame; and an open-Work abrasive cloth wrapped around said sponge and lapped over said central flat rectangular portion of said frame and tensionally'secured at its ends by said cam locks forcing said abrasive cloth into en gagement with the upper surface of said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 672,408 McAfee Apr. 16, 1901 734,954 Reissmann July 28, 1903 2,123,581 Anderson July 12, 1938 2,248,884 McAdams July 8, 1941 2,268,403 Kingman Dec. 30, 1941 2,417,356' Field Mar. 11, 1947 2,475,476 Champayne July 5, 1949 2,740,239 Ball et a1 Apr. 3, 1956 

